Rights groups ask Facebook to clarify policies on content removal

Censorship issue: Certain parties have criticised Facebook for deleting content involving police violence.

WASHINGTON:  More than 70 rights groups asked Facebook on Monday to clarify its policies for removing content, especially at the behest of governments, alleging the company has repeatedly censored postings that document human rights violations.

In a letter sent to Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, the organisations criticise the social media company for cases in recent months where it has deleted content involving police violence, removed iconic imagery from the Vietnam War and briefly suspended accounts belonging to two Palestinian journalists.